Well, we decided to try it again this past week. Starting the Sunday before Conference, we started our fast. The kids were not too excited about it, but we all agreed that we could do it. Monday after school was a moaning choir to the lyrics, "I am so boooorrreeeedd!!" But as the week went on, it was amazing the changes that I saw...
On Thursday, D and I sat and talked for over an hour. It was so fun to just talk to him, but as I got ready to leave, he stood up and said, "You know it's a media fast when you sit and talk to your older sister for half the day!!" Haha! I didn't know whether to be offended or just laugh. So we decided to make a list of the 10 Things that help you know it's a media fast.
10. You know it's a media fast when you hear "I am so bored, I am going to die" and "I would've hated to be a pioneer!"
9. You know it's a media fast when the computer doesn't need shut down at night because it never was turned on.
8. You know it's a media fast when D and J pull out scooters, skateboards, and bikes for the first time in months.
7. You know it's a media fast when none of the kids' friends want to come to our house because they can't watch ANYTHING.
6. You know it's a media fast when J is excited to go to D's choir concert because "ANY music is better than mom's Christmas music in October!"
5. You know it's a media fast when you have no idea what natural disaster everyone is talking about 3 days after the fact.
4. You know it's a media fast when A practices the piano even after the timer goes off.
3. You know it's a media fast when you come home to find the whole family asleep at 10pm - the time when they are usually just starting homework.
2. You know it's a media fast when J reads more pages in a week than he has read the entire year.
1. You know it's a media fast when you sit and do nothing other than talk to your older sister for OVER an hour. :)
By the end of the week, I can say that we spent much more family time together than we do normally. There was less arguing and more laughing, less teasing and more helping, and the "I'm bored" was replaced with "Want to play a game?" I am so grateful that we decided to fast from media as we prepared for general conference. Conference was so great. I was more prepared to hear to words of our living prophet and leaders. I am so grateful for those inspired speakers that gave us reminders of what we need to do in order to have more love for one another, how to strengthen our personal testimonies, and how to maintain our standards in an increasingly wicked world.
I would like to say that we are ready and willing to live a life without so much media but... I checked my facebook Monday morning, mom turned the TV on while working out again, J blared his music while getting ready for school, and A begged mom to buy the movie "Monsters vs. Aliens." Haha! I guess some things are harder to change. After all, you can't "fast" forever right? =)
4 comments:
That is a great idea. I will have to try it.
Great post Kourt! It's amazing how much you can do together when you don't have another choice... hmmm?
That was hillarious! I'm so proud of you guys for doing that- I bet it helped you to be more in tune with the spirit for conference.
Ohh I was going to call you, but this will have to do. I about jumped off of my chair when Elder Nelson told the story of the guy that was baptized, and the dad that was told he would be converted. But it took the loss of his hearing to turn to the Lord. Ohh I thought it was so cool that I already new the story before it'd even been told. I'm so glad you shared it with me. You are awesome!!
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